The following surgeries are specialized procedures used to treat problems that may be contributing to sleep apnea. Each procedure has variable success rates and the potential for surgical complications.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP)

This procedure involves the removal of extra tissue from the back of the throat, including the tonsils, the uvula, and part of the soft palate.

Laser-assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)

Although this procedure seems to help improve snoring, it’s not clear whether it also has an effect on sleep apnea. This procedure uses laser techniques to remove tissue from the back of the throat.

An electrode that releases radio waves is used to destroy tissue at the base of the tongue. Most people have noticed decreased snoring and decreased daytime sleepiness after ten 20-minute treatments. This is more effective for snoring, but has not been shown to be effective in the treatment of sleep apnea.

This procedure is rarely performed and reserved for extremely severe cases of sleep apnea. It involves creating a hole called a stoma at the base of the neck and into the windpipe. A tube in the stoma can be plugged during the day so that you can breathe and talk normally. At night, the tube is unplugged, and you breathe through the stoma.

Nasal Surgery

Nasal surgery to remove an obstruction is another way to relieve sleep apnea.

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References

Being evaluated for sleep apnea. American Sleep Apnea Association website. Available at: http://www.sleepapnea.org/resources/pubs/evaluated.html. Published May 2005. Accessed September 17, 2008.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Exercise during pregnancy has been associated with many benefits for mom and baby. This review supports the trend and finds that even one day of purposeful activity per week may reduce the need for cesarean birth.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available.
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